Avoiding Contact Lens Problems
 

Contact lenses can cause eye problems, such as damage to the cornea or eye infections. It is important to follow the directions for cleaning and wearing these lenses to avoid eye problems.

● Follow the cleaning instructions for your lenses. Keep your lenses and anything that touches them—hands, storage containers, solution bottles, makeup—very clean. Wash your hands before handling your contacts.

● Use a commercial saline solution. (Generic brands are just as good as name brands.)   Homemade solution is easily contaminated with bacteria.

● If your contact lens cleaning solution becomes contaminated, throw it away and buy new solution.

● Do not wet your contact lenses in your mouth.

● Insert your contacts before applying eye makeup. Do not apply makeup to the inner rim of the eyelid. Replace eye makeup supplies every 3 to 6 months to reduce the risk of contamination.

● When worn for long periods of time, extended-wear lenses are more likely to cause severe eye infections. If you choose to wear them, follow the wearing and cleaning schedule your doctor recommends.

● Visit your eye care professional once a year to check the condition of your lenses and the health of your eyes.

● Contact lenses, especially soft lenses, may absorb eye drops. If you use eye medications, leave your lenses out for about 30 minutes after using the eye drops to avoid problems.